Kashmir unrest: 3 voices from Valley echo louder in Parliament

HIGHLIGHTS

Jitendra Singh slammed separatists, said they shield own kids from jihad.

Incidents like JNU, harassment of Kashmiris raised.

There was a debate over the violent protests in Jammu and Kashmir, in Parliament on Wednesday

HIGHLIGHTS

3 voices on Kashmir heard in Parliament.

Jitendra Singh slammed separatists, said they shield own kids from jihad.

Incidents like JNU, harassment of Kashmiris raised.

Three voices from Kashmir representing a cross section of political spectrum were heard in Parliament on Wednesday during the debate on the fresh cycle of violence unleashed over a month ago.Minister of state in PMO Jitendra Singh, who represents Udhampur in Lok Sabha, came down heavily on

Three voices from Kashmir representing a cross section of political spectrum were heard in Parliament on Wednesday during the debate on the fresh cycle of violence unleashed over a month ago.

Minister of state in PMO Jitendra Singh, who represents Udhampur in Lok Sabha, came down heavily on the separatists for sending their children to safe heaven in other parts of India or abroad and leaving poor kids for 'jihad'. "If jihad is a sure shot way to 'jannat' (heaven) then why don't they send their kids in safe heaven," asked Jitendra Singh.

DIFFERENT VOICES ON KASHMIR

While dismissing suggestions by a large section of the Opposition to send an all-party delegation to the Valley, Singh said the current cycle of violence was not unusual in the Valley as even worse unrests have broken out in the past. He added that it would be wrong to link it to the formation of BJP-PDP government.

Congress MP Karan Singh, son of the last king of the state, welcomed PM Narendra Modi's assurance on the economic development of the state but said the need of hour was a political solution. He asserted that Kashmir is not an internal matter alone as half of the state is with Pakistan and the other is under Chinese occupation.

He also said it would be futile for MPs to visit Kashmir without adequate ground work by the government.

PDP member Nazir Ahmad Laway said Kashmir had defied the two-nation theory and why the nation remembers the nation only "when it is burning". He said incidents like JNU and harassment of Kashmiri students in other campuses was alienating the Valley though he welcomed PM Modi's strong support for the development of the state.